Sensing Spaces of Healthcare

I remember… The incessant beeping of monitors. Telephones at the nurses’ desk ringing constantly. The unpleasant smell of breakfast wafting in from the HDU. A lone 1980s copy of ‘Pâtés and Terrines’ in the family room, nothing else to read. The atmosphere mixed with the smell of disinfectant and burnt toast.

I remember… Waiting to hear the results of my partner’s breast cancer test … exploring the free lending library in the lobby of the hospital. The smell of well-loved books in this little alcove for a few minutes comforted me by taking over the usual hospital smells. I dropped a pound coin into the donation slot, then took with me a hefty paperback of Margaret Atwood’s Oryx & Crake. The test was good news, so now that book is too.